I'm a bit of an an 'auld git' myself - 68 in July!!EvilV wrote:This is getting a bit weird because I was under the impression that you had previously isolated the wind apparatus and were getting spikes with a new extension cable plugged into nothing but strung up the mast. Now it seems you have a new cable plugged into nothing but no spikes. You already ruled out the static build up theory (except that I wouldn't count a 9" copper pipe as a good earth myself. In my Radio Ham days I used at least a one metre copper rod hammered down into the ground and watered it regularly in dry weather) so why have the spikes gone now? Is it because you are now shielding the cable by running it up the inside of an earthed tube, perhaps? And what will happen when you re-connect your wind gear at the top?
I may have missed something here in your current arrangements.... It si getting complicated to keep up for an 'auld git'.
Yes, I think you're right about this - I'll have to produced a detailled test schedule and results.
Only the last foot or so of the cable goes inside the mast - from the top. The rest is in the same position as the original sensor cable within half an inch, using the same tape. One difference is that the cross piece for the sensors is no longer at the top of the mast and the original extension cable is connected to the tx unit. The modem cable that was connected to the tx unit and wrapped round the sensor cable and a couple of foot of mast is now at the top of the mast, plugged into the coupler. Does this make sense?
I was thinking of replacing the original cable from the wind vane unit, plus coupler and extension cable, with one new cable soldered into the vane unit. That would do away with the two coupler connections.